5McC

I have read the other positive reviews about this program and wish to pitch in. I am the 55 year old father of a teenage girl who is addicted to this and we watch this in the UK. I accept that this is a kids programme but I don't get it. The script is corny and predictable. The dialogue consists of unvarying conflict and shouting and the canned laughter in the background laughs constantly . . . . at nothing. Smart-ass remarks require to be funny. Ask yourself each time there is background canned laughter - what's the joke? More worrying is that my daughter has started to talk to me the way the kids talk to each other on the program – so I've stopped her watching it even though it cannot be classed as a bad program!

This series was first broadcast in August September 1989 on the 50th anniversary of the start of the Second World War but has never been repeated on main terrestrial television in the UK until recently. Perhaps the long time span has made it more enjoyable because I had forgotten how good this was, and that is said from one who has never been particularly enamoured with the either Last of the Summer Wine or the concept of prequels. It is a good quality and very genteel comedy with solid performances from the cast enhanced by good period details and a sharp script. Only Peter Sallis is a well known name and who played Clegg in Last of the Summer Wine ; he now plays his characters father! None of the other cast members are well known and seem to have disappeared.

Reliable, solid performance as usual from Timothy Spall. As one who looks forward to uplifting dramas especially during these current times of economic recession, I found the last 2 minutes of what was billed as a comedy drama very uplifting – particularly after sitting through 2 hours of this. A word of congratulations must go to Jeff Pope and Caroline Aherne who seemed to have managed with ease to release Bobby Ball from his Christian beliefs by prolonged use of his foul language - quite a contrast from an earlier appearance he made on 'Songs of Praise.' It was billed as a comedy drama. I missed the comedy part. Is this what we really want on weekend prime time television in the UK?